Log grapple



R. F. JENKINS Sept. '3, 1963 LOG GRAPPLE Filed July 14, 1961 INVENTOR Ear FLZA /VK/MJ BY y z a? ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,102,752 LOG GRAPPLE Roy F. Jenkins, Star Rte. 2, Lebanon, Greg. Filed July 14, 1961, Ser. No. 124,199 2 Ulaims. Cl. Zita-411) The present invention relates to mechanically operated grapple devices and more particularly to a grapple device used in logging operations.

The primary object of the invention is a log grapple being constructed in a manner to accommodate logs of varying diameters within the limits of the grapples operation. 7

Another object of the invention is a log grapple provided on its jaws with separate means to engage the outer surface of a log of a large diameter, as well as means to engage the outer surface of a log of a different diameter.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent by referring to the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the log grapple, showing in solid lines the extreme movement of the jaws in a fully open position and in dotted lines the position of the jaws when engaging a log of extremely small diameter.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the grapple shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the grapple shown in FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a scissor-type log grapple constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention which comprises a substantially horizontal cross head 1t} having secured centrally therein a sheave 12 around which a cable 14 operatively connected to a winch on the log handling apparatus, not shown, passes.

Pivotally secured to one end of the cross head ill is a pair of link members .16 joined in parallel relation to each other. Pivotally secured to the other end of the cross head Ill is an identical pair of link members 18, joined in the same manner as those indicated by 16. The other end of the link members 16 and 1'8 are pivotally secured to a pair of jaw members 20 and 22, respectively. The jaw members 20 and 22 are substantially T-shaped in configuration, having an elongated upper end portion 24 and 26 and an arcuately curved log-engaging ja-w portion 28 and 30'. The upper end portion 24 of jaw 20* is pivotally secured to one end of the link member 16 and pivotally attached to a pulley block In a like manner, the jaw 22 is pivotally secured to link member 18 and to pulley block 32.

Projecting outwardly from the link members it: and 1'8 are metal loops 34 and 36 to which cables may be secured and wound around a drum on the log loading machine whereby the log grapple may be properly aligned to operatively engage a log which is to be lifted.

The jaws 20 and 22 have at their lower ends hook portions 38 and 40 which, when moved to an operative position around a log of rather substantial size, serve to grip the log in a rather secure fashion. Spaced upwardly along the arcuate portions 28 and 30 of the jaw members 20 and 22 are log-engaging teeth 42 and 44, whereby when a log having an extremely small diameter is lifted, the teeth 40 and 42 will engage the same and hold it securely. The position assumed by the jaws 20 and 22 when engaging a log of extremely small diameter are shown in dotted lines. As illustrated, the arcuate portions 28 and 30 of the jaws 2t and 22, when engaging a small diameter log, assume a position whereby the arcuate portions 23 and 36 are in overlapping crossed relation.

3,102,752 Patented Sept. 3, 1963 "ice The outer arcuate portions of the jaws 20 and 22 have formed integrally therewith hook members 46 and 48 disposed opposite the log-engaging teeth 42 and 44. If it is desired to use the grapple as a lifting member or means for an object other than a log, the object to be lifted can have placed there-around a cable having the end thereof secured to either of the hook members 46 and 48 whereby :by raising of the tongs, the object will be lifted.

In FIGURE 2 there is shown the relation of the members forming the link 18 and the disposition of the loop 36 with respect thereto. Also shown is the offset manner in which the jaw members 20 and 22 are mounted to allow the same to assume the position shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 1.

As shown. in FIGURE 3, the pulley block 33-is comprised of a pair of spaced plates Sit and 52. The jaws are pivotally secured between'the plates and have spacers 56 so positioned to provide the offset manner of mounting the jaws 20* and 22 to produce the desired scissortype action. The plates 50 and 52- forrning part of the pulley block 32 are provided with struck-in portions 58 and 60, two of which are shown, whereby when the jaws 20 and 22 are moved to the extreme limits of the operation, the struck portions provide a stop whereby no further movement of these jaws can occur. Also disposed between the plates 50 and 52 is a pulley 62 around which the cable 14 passes. The pulley block 32 is disposed in vertically aligned relation and spaced from the pulley 12 secured to the cross head ill.

The operation of the log grapple, described above, will be readily apparent by referring to FIGURE 1. As shown, the cable 14- is secured at one end to the pulley block 32, passes around the pulley 12 secured to cross head It) and around pulley 62 between the plates 50' and 5 2 of the pulley block 32 and upwardly between a pair of guide rolls 64- secured to the cross head '10 adjacent the pulley 12. When it is desired to lift a log of any desired diameter, the grapple is lowered whereby the arcuate portions 28 and 30 of jaws 20 and 22 engage the same. The end of the cable 14, opposite that which is secured to the pulley block 32, is wound upon a cable drum in the log loader machine and is adapted to be further wound there-around. When the cable 14 is taken up around the drum in the log loading machine, the pulley block 32 moves upwardly towards the cross head 10, causing the jaws 20 and 22 to pivot and engage the outer surface of the log to be lifted.

While the invention has been described in its preferred embodiments, many modifications and variations thereof will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. It is felt, however, that such modifications and variations come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A scissor-type log grapple comprising a horizontal cross head, a pair of downwardly depending link members each pivotally secured at one end to one end of said cross head, two substantially T-shaped jaws having elongated upper end portions including two ends and with confronting aroua-tely curved log engaging surfaces including lower end portions depending substantially centrally from each of said elongated upper end portions approximately midway between said ends thereof, a sheave rotatably supported on said cross head, an operating cable around said sheave and secured to a pulley block disposed below and in ventical alignment therewith, one end of the elongated upper end portions of each of said jaws being pivotally connected to said pulley block and the other end of each of said elongated upper end portions: being pivotally connected to said link members, said pulley block adapted to be moved vertically position, integral portions of said pulley block engageable with the upper end portions of said jaws to limit movement of said jaws when the same are moved to an inoperative position andthe lower end portions of said jaws being'in overlappingcrossed relation when the same are moved to the limit of their operative position.

2. A scissor-type log grapple comprising a horizontal cross head, a pair of links each pivotally connected at one end to one end of said cross head, two substantially T-shapedjaws ha'ving elongated upper end pontions including two ends and with confronting arcuately curved log engaging surfaces including lower end portions depending substantially oentrally from each of said elongated upper end portions approximately midway between said ends thereof, log engaging teeth on each of the confronting surfaces ofsaid jaws and spaced from the lower'end portions thereof, the lower portion of each of said jaws defining log'engaging hooks, a sheave rotatably supported on said cross head, an operating cable around said sheave and secured to a pulley block disposed below and in vertical alignment therewith, one endofthe elongated upper end portions of each of said jaws being pivotally connected to said pulley blockand the other end'ofeach of said elongated upper end portions being pivotally connected to the free end of said link members, said pulley block adapted to be moved vertically to move said jaws from an inoperative to an operative position, said pulley block including stop means 4 engageable with the elongated upper end portion of each of said jaws to limit movement thereof when said jaws are moved to an inoperative position, and the lower end portions of said jaws being in overlapping crossed relation when a log is engaged between the teeth on the confronting surfaces of said jaws.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 490,866 Fitzsimmons Jan. 31, 1893 1,018,065 Marble Feb. 20, 1912 1,587,479 Durocher June 1, 1926 2,587,217 Quenan Feb. 26, 1952 3,043,620 Priest July 10, 1962 3,082,031 Lindberg Mar. 19, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 136,997 Switzerland Feb. 17, 1930 991,164 France Apr. 6, 1944 805,180 Germany May 7, 1951 488,553 Italy Dec. 28, 1953 OTHER REFERENCES Publication "of The Timberman, vol. LIX-No. 8, Jul 1958; page 63.

Young Log Grapples (publication), copy received in. Div. 34, Feb. 3, 1960, pages1- 8 relied on. By Young Iron Works 2929-1st Ave. 8., Seattle 4, Washington. 

1. A SCISSOR-TYPE LOG GRAPPLE COMPRISING A HORIZONTAL CROSS HEAD, A PAIR OF DOWNWARDLY DEPENDING LINK MEMBERS EACH PIVOTALLY SECURED AT ONE END TO ONE END OF SAID CROSS HEAD, TWO SUBSTANTIALLY T-SHAPED JAWS HAVING ELONGATED UPPER END PORTIONS INCLUDING TWO ENDS AND WITH CONFRONTING ARCUATELY CURVED LOG ENGAGING SURFACES INCLUDING LOWER END PORTIONS DEPENDING SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY FROM EACH OF SAID ELONGATED UPPER END PORTIONS APPROXIMATELY MIDWAY BETWEEN SAID ENDS THEREOF, A SHEAVE ROTATABLY SUPPORTED ON SAID CROSS HEAD, AN OPERATING CABLE AROUND SAID SHEAVE AND SECURED TO A PULLEY BLOCK DISPOSED BELOW AND IN VERTICAL ALIGNMENT THEREWITH, ONE END OF THE ELONGATED UPPER END PORTIONS OF EACH OF 